Dog Parent Faces Doggie Day Care Dilemma, Seeks Guidance from the Canine Community of the World Wide Web

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kalila courban
Jan 6, 2024 10:00 AM EST

Hey, dog lovers and parents! We all know that our doggos are like our children, and that means we want only the very best for our furry family members. Doggie daycare is always a gamble; you never know exactly how your pupper is going to react to all the stimulation and excitement that comes with an abundance of doggos in one place.

For the original poster (OP) of the thread we're featuring today, a dilemma arose, leading them to turn to the canine community of the world wide web for guidance. OP works a lot and thoughtfully sought out the assistance of a local doggie daycare to help with some dog duty responsibilities during the long work weeks. Unfortunately, they were repeatedly told to come pick up their doggo early due to the dog's incessant barking when crated. Determined to find a solution, OP turned to Reddit and sought advice. Check out the comments below.

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  • 01
    Posted by u/Bubbly_Mastodon413 8 hours ago Dog barking at daycare
    via u/Bubbly_Mastodon413
  • 02
    Essentially the title. But lately every time I have picked him up from daycare (3 yo Labrador retriever) they tell me that I need to come get him sooner because he keeps barking while crated. The daycare has started suggesting him to only go for 3-4 hrs but I work the day he goes and don't have anyone to pick him up.
    via u/Bubbly_Mastodon413
  • 03
    This is a new issue to me as when he's crated at home he doesn't bark. We have a camera on him if we leave and he's still never barking and we check on him every 20-30 minutes we're gone. We have also sat him in a kennel when he was puppy and sat in the living room to get him used to it and still never barked then. BUT now that we've started daycare he's constantly barking while crated in the afternoon.
    via u/Bubbly_Mastodon413
  • 04
    Is there anything I can do to fix this? I drop him off at daycare the days I don't have a dog sitter, which are typically Mondays, and his last playtime ends at 430 and I get off at 330 so typically pick him up at 4 is when I get there. I just really need an opinion and help on this situation.
    via u/Bubbly_Mastodon413
  • 05
    radicaldoubt 9 hr. ago If he's being crated at daycare, why not crate him at home and hire a dog walker to come let him out once or twice while you're at work? 69 Reply Share Bubbly_Mastodon413 OP 9 hr. ago We wanted him to have the social interaction with other dogs because he hasn't gotten much due to being around mainly my family and friends.
    via u/radicaldoubt
  • 06
    alydinva 9 hr. ago He doesn't like it there. 31 Reply Share sicksages 2 hr. ago Nah, dogs just bark because dogs bark. I worked at a doggie daycare and they all loved it there, until it was time for nap and then they wanted back out.
    via u/alydinva
  • 07
    IndependenceNo2060 8 hr. ago . It's heartbreaking to see your dog struggle, but you're doing your best to find solutions. Maybe try a different daycare with more playtime? Hugs to you both!
    via u/IndependenceNo2060
  • 08
    Superb_Board1848. 6 hr. ago Dogs are supposed to be able to nap during the day. Play-all-day daycares are way too overstimulating, they need breaks. I agree with other commenters who say your dog is probably overstimulated. A daycare where your dog is thrown in a room with a bunch of random dogs all day long with no breaks would definitely make it worse. It also explains why he doesnt bark at the vet or at home, because he wasn't just playing with a bunch of dogs he just met with all this stuff
    via u/Superb_Board1848
  • 09
    briggsd514 6 hr. ago Yeah many adult dogs also really don't need to be around other dogs and playing all of the time. They are supposed to sleep a lot. So many of these daycares and what not are based on our projections onto dogs rather than what is actually ideal for them. Reply Share Vote Bubbly_Mastodon413 OP. 6 hr. ago So they do a rotation of when dogs play and rest. So 2 hr play, 2 hr rest, 3 hr play, 3 hr rest etc. he's getting time away from the dogs but also playing with them. It's when
    via u/briggsd514
  • 10
    rangerdanger_9 - 2 hr. ago Hey, so I'm a seasonal worker at a doggie daycare between breaks from college. To me it sounds like they're trying to say your dog is getting overstimulated and stressed. Some dogs just can't handle all day play (and the place I work gives dogs a 2 hour break midday). My daycare has also suggested half days for certain dogs, and every dog we've suggested it too has had significant positive increases in their behavior. Some dogs just don't enjoy an all day thing and get
    via u/rangerdanger_9
  • 11
    Solid-Comment2490 - 8 hr. ago What kind of daycare is this? I've worked at MULTIPLE doggy daycares and we don't care if they're barking. Also why is he in a crate if he's there for playtime? I'm so confused 0 Reply Share ... Bubbly_Mastodon413 OP 7 hr. ago I guess he's in there to rotate through the dog groups and to have a better ratio of dogs to handlers due to staffing. So he plays for 2 hrs rests for 2 hrs and etc.
    via u/Solid-Comment2490
  • 12
    funsk8mom 7 hr. ago Dog isn't happy. We sent our dog to a daycare while we went on vacation. We visited a few times ahead of time. They showed me the facility, where she would sleep, they even had a cot in the room for the overnight person to sleep on with the overnight stays. They let me bring her to the playroom while she acclimated outside the walls before letting her go play. We had to drag her out of there when we picked her up Next vacation we went somewhere closer that was highly recommen
    via u/funsk8mom
  • 13
    Bubbly_Mastodon413 OP - 8 hr. ago That's what I'm thinking too, but the last 4 visits I've gotten the complaint of him "barking while kenneled and we don't want that." Ive been looking into other daycares but they're outside of the range I am but if I have a day off and drop him off would that be too mean? Or inhumane? I have a day off and I'm bringing my dog to daycare?? I've been looking into dog walkers and sitters through friends and apps.
    via u/Bubbly_Mastodon413
  • 14
    Twzl 7 hr. ago Champion the lack of cameras and the fact that they have him in a crate tells me that this place is at best, a waste of your money.
    via u/Twzl
  • 15
    Wanna Know_it_all . 7 hr. ago Maybe you can find a dogsitter in the area? Someone who likes the company of your dog but doesn't want the full responsibility of owning a dog
    via u/Wanna_Know_it_all
  • 16
    Bubbly_Mastodon413 OP 9 hr. ago I work typically 8hr shifts but some days work 12 to help with making extra money. I mainly bring him to daycare because the person who watches him is my mom and she demands she has one day without him... haven't found anyone else to cover the mandatory one day she wants without him yet so we've gone the daycare route..
    via u/Bubbly_Mastodon413
  • 17
    civodar 8 hr. ago Based on what you've said I think you'd be better suited at another doggy daycare. There are plenty of doggy daycares where the dogs are free to play throughout the entire day, it sounds like the one you go to has space limitations and doesn't want to pay staff to stick around for another hour to clean and close up. Also it makes sense that he'd be quiet when crated at home, but loud when crated in the doggy daycare. He's surrounded by other dogs and can probably hear dogs play
    via u/civodar
  • 18
    RiceNervous5680 - 7 hr. ago I'd be appreciative of the daycare telling me that my dog is uncomfortable rather than crate/kennel him and just continue to allow him to stress out, tell me my dogs happy and keep taking my money.
    via u/RiceNervous5680
  • 19
    RoseOfSharon Cassidy 6 hr. ago Kirby (smooth collie), Pearl (smooth collie),... Crating at daycare is actually a sign of a good daycare. Dogs shouldn't play nonstop for 8hrs straight; they get overstimulated and it can lead to conflict. Some dogs will regulate themselves and take a break, but not all do. A good daycare will ensure the dogs take naps, which means crating or kennelling for many dogs.
    via u/RoseOfSharon
  • 20
    fiestiier 8 hr. ago Why is he crated at daycare? I pay for daycare specifically for my dog NOT to be crated, because he doesn't tolerate it well. A new daycare is what's needed.
    via u/fiestiier
  • 21
    psychominnie624. 9 hr. ago Siberian husky Sounds like he's getting overstimulated by the time the afternoon rolls around and then cannot settle in that environment. It sounds like the workers are concerned he's not handling it well. How long are your workdays? I see you said you have a dog sitter other days but at 3 years old I'd also expect him to be okay for a typical 8/9 hour workday once a week.
    via u/psychominnie624

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